September is National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Join us today, September 17, 2009 as CURE Childhood Cancer honors CURE Kid Hayley Thomson. Join our fight as CURE’s Kids Conquer Cancer One Day at a Time! Donate to Hayley’s Fund.

Hayley Thomson’s Story:

Hayley Elizabeth Thomson was born on February 3, 2003 and instantly stole our hearts. Her full head of curly hair and warm smile soon hinted at the perfect combination of mischief and sweetness she would become.

Our world was torn apart when Hayley was diagnosed with AML leukemia on February 25, 2004, shortly after her first birthday. AML leukemia, the more aggressive of the two forms of leukemia, is acute, fast growing and more common in adults than in children. We were told the five-year survival rate was 50 percent – not a number any parent ever wants to hear. And yet we had hope. Hayley was admitted to the AFLAC Cancer Center for her care and treatment, where we spent most of 2004. For months, in spite of an aggressive treatment schedule, Hayley was a model patient, entering remission and suffering little to no side effects from the intense chemotherapy she received. She took hospital life in stride and celebrated many of her firsts there–including walking and talking. Soon, even the hospital scale became a place to dance and have fun. We were elated with her resilience. Surely she had beaten this beast of a disease. But the celebration was short lived.

Surprising to everyone, Hayley relapsed in the skin and bone marrow on July 9th, two weeks short of completing her therapy. She was never to reach a solid remission again, despite numerous chemotherapy and experimental protocols. Her relapses were fast and furious, and included cancer hiding in her spinal fluid and stomach. The treatments became harsher and harsher. Even an eventual cord blood transplant with total body irradiation was not enough. She relapsed 14 days later, with 23 percent cancer in her blood. On December 19th, 2004 Hayley received her much deserved rest and went home to be with her Heavenly Father, cancer-free at last. While we rejoice that her suffering is over, our life without her will never be the same. She is missed every single day.

Although Hayley’s battle is over, many of her friends wage on. This September, as part of Childhood Cancer Awareness month, we ask your support so that no other family ever has to endure the heartache of losing a child to cancer, and that one day, every child will be guaranteed a cure.

With gratitude for your support and much love for our first-born daughter,

Dayna & Alan Thomson

About September & CURE’S Kids Conquer Cancer One Day at a Time:

September is recognized as National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. This September, CURE Childhood Cancer has committed to raising awareness and raising money to help find a cure for childhood cancer in our lifetime and put an end to this terrible disease through a special program CURE’s Kids Conquer Cancer One Day at a Time!

Please help us in our goal of raising $30,000 in the month of September while honoring special CURE kids each day of the month who have been affected by childhood cancer.

Founded in 1975, CURE Childhood Cancer is dedicated to conquering childhood cancer through research, education and support of patients and their families. Since its establishment as a grass-roots organization, CURE has focused its efforts on improving the care, quality of life, and survival rate of children with cancer.

The founders, parents and a dedicated pediatric oncologist, joined forces to support laboratory research that would translate into immediate care for children with cancer.

Since that time, CURE has raised millions of dollars to fund cutting edge research at the Aflac Cancer Center Blood Disorders Service at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and Emory University School of Medicine.

Through innovative programming, CURE also provides support for stricken families, providing them comfort and support during their time of devastating need.